Reflecting-light



Sheets-Sheet 1 (N0 Model!) W. BURKE. I

REFLEGTING LIGHT.

No. 460.462- 7 Patented Sept. 29, 1891.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. J. BURKE.

1 l 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

W. J. BURKE.

REPLEGTING LIGHT.

4 462 77 Patented Sept. 2

lvwwwtoz William J Burke UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. BURKE, OF SEATTLE, VASHINGTON.

R-EFLECTlNG-LIGHT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 460,462, dated.September 29, 1891.

Application filed November 26, 1889. Renewed January 30, 1891. SerialNo, 379,654. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. BURKE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Seattle,in the county of Kingand State ofWashington, haveinvented a new and useful Reflecting-Light, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to reflecting-lights or signals for railroad-carsand for similar purposes; and it consists in a multiple reflector, bymeans of which a single light may be duplicated a number of times, so asto show a number of signals forthe production of which by ordinarymethods several separate and distinct lights would be required.

The invention further consists in the improved construction andarrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a perspective view of areflecting-light embodying my improvements and adapted to be applied tothe cupola of a caboose. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional View of thesame. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on the linea: so in Fig. 2. 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken onthe liney y in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detaiLperspective view of the mainlantern-casing.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

1 designates the main lantern-casing, the bottom of which is providedwith a circular opening 2, surrounded by an annular flange 3, withinwhich the lamp 4, which is of ordinary construction, may be mounted andsecured by means of bayonet-fastenin gs 5. The top of the lantern-casingis provided with a horizontal concave reflector 6, having a centralopening 7 for the passage of the lampchimney 8, and the upper end of thecasing has a cap 9, which is open at both ends for the escape of theproducts of combustion.

The four sides of the main lantern-casing are provided with circularopenings 10, in which glasses 11 are fitted. The said circular openingsare surrounded by the annular flanges 12 for the purpose to behereinafter set forth. The main lantern-casing is adapted to be fittedcentrally in the top of the cupola of a caboose, where it remains asapermanent fixture. Its bottom flange 3, however, extends through theroof of the cupola, in order that the lamp may be conveniently removedand replaced from the inside of the caboose.

To the annular flanges 12 upon the front and rear sides of the mainlantern-casing are detachably connected the frustum shaped tubes 13 13,to the outer ends of which caps 14 are secured by means ofbayonet-joints 15. The caps 14 have glasses 16, which may be ofdifferent colors, according to the signals which are to be conveyed. Theinner sides of the tubes 13 should be brightly polished in order thatthe said tubes may act as reflectors to reflect the light from the lampplaced Within the main lantern-casing. The tubes 13 are made taperingfrom the lantern-casing in an outward direction, as will be clearlyseen'by reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings.

To the flanges 12 on opposite sides of the main lantern-casing aredetachably secured the tubes 17, which converge toward their outer ends,andwhich are provided at their outer ends with rectangular casings 18,hav

ing laterallyextending annular flanges 19,

surrounding openings 20, and provided with bayonet-joints 21, by meansof which they may be connected detachably with the outer 8o It will beunderstood from the construction of the device as herein described thatthe light from the single lamp placed in the main lantern-casing will bereflected forwardly and rearwardly through the reflecting-tubes attachedto the front and rear sides of said lan- 5 tern-casing and laterallythrough the reflecting-tubes attached to the sides of said casing. TheV-shaped reflectors mounted in the easings at the outer ends of saidlaterally-extending tubes likewise reflect the light forwardly andrearwardly through the said sup plemental casings, thus duplicating thelight to the extent that six separate and distinct signals are producedfrom the single light WVithin the casings 18 are 85- mounted in the mainlantern-casing. It is obvious that by changing the colors of the glassesthe signals may be changed; also, that a non-transparent cap may besubstituted for any one of the transparent caps, for any one of thesupplementary reflecti n g-casin gs, or for any one of thereflecting-tubes, as occasion may require. The reflecting-tubes are madedetachable from the main lantern-casing, as described, partly for thepurpose of enabling such changes and substitutions to be convenien tlymade and partly to enable their interior reflecting-surfaces to beconvenientlycleaned and polished, when desired.

In the manufacture of my invention I do not limit myself to the preciseconstruction and arrangement of details herein described, but reservethe right to any modifications which may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with the main lanterncasing, of theradially-extending reflectingtubes, the casings mounted detachably atthe outer ends of said reflectingtube and having openings in their frontand rear sides, the caps mounted detachably upon the flanges surroundingthe said openings and having colored glasses, and the V-shapedreflectors mounted vertically in the said casings, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the main lanterncasing, of a supplementalreflecting-casing having front and rear openings, a V-shaped reflectormounted in the supplemental casing, and a connecting-tube, substantiallyas set forth.

The combination of the main casing, the horizontal concave reflectorhaving an opening for the passage of the lamp-chimney, the supplementalreflecting-casings, the V-shaped reflectors mounted in the latter, andthe connecting-tubes, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signatu re in presence of two witnesses.

\V. J'. BURKE Witnesses:

JAS. HAMILTON Lnwls, S. E. BOYNTON.

